Friday, July 20, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Nexus 7 backlight bleeding issue spotted

Posted: 20 Jul 2012 03:22 AM PDT

The brand new Nexus 7 Jelly Bean tablet, despite being more resistant than the iPad in drop and water tests, still has some issues of its own. In addition to the screen ghosting problem and the loose display annoyance we have already shown you, we now hear the some units also come with certain backlight bleeding issues.

As you can see in the image above, obtained by PocketNow, the backlight bleeding problem is more than obvious and we're yet to see whether it's related to the loose display matter.

While Asus provided various answers regarding the Nexus 7 – explaining why there's no rear-camera on the device – it's yet to go on record on this problems affecting certain units. And Google has not come out to detail these issues either.

On the other hand, we have no idea how many users are affected by these (manufacturing?) problems, so we're certainly interested in hearing more from you, Nexus 7 buyers. Did you notice such backlight bleeding on your tablet? Is the screen also coming out of its place? What about image ghosting issues?


This article, Nexus 7 backlight bleeding issue spotted , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


HTC confirms Jelly Bean updates for One X, One XL and One S, fails to announce any dates

Posted: 20 Jul 2012 03:05 AM PDT

Although we are almost nine months since Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was released, the updating process on most high-end and mid-range devices has been frustratingly slow, to say the least. Every major manufacturer still has at least a couple of important gadgets not officially running ICS, which is why most of us were surprised to see Jelly Bean released already.

As expected, the updating process for Android 4.1 JB is itself shaping out to be slow and painful, and for now, we only have the Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 7 tablet officially running Jelly Bean.

Fortunately, we seem to be getting some rather optimistic signals from OEMs about Jelly Bean updates lately and we could actually see a bunch of devices getting Android 4.1 in a just a couple of months.

Three of those devices will most likely be HTC's One X, One XL and One S smartphones, which have been officially confirmed to receive upgrades. "At this point in time, we can confirm that we have plans to upgrade our HTC One X, HTC One XL and HTC One S to Jelly Bean" said HTC in an official statement issued earlier today.

"Please stay tuned for more updates regarding device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Jelly Bean." added HTC in its statement, failing therefore to announce any kind of timeframe for the JB updates.

Furthermore, we can't help but notice that this preliminary "list" of devices to get Android 4.1 is "unseasonably" short, making us wonder whether such very popular phones like the One V, EVO 4G LTE, or Droid Incredible 4G LTE will be fitted into update plans anytime soon.

On the other hand, according to Engadget sources, HTC is planning to not only update the global versions of the One X, One XL and One S "soon", but also the carrier-branded models over at AT&T, T-Mobile and Rogers Canada.

As our good friend Lucian mentioned yesterday, when reporting on what was then a rumor about One XL and S updates, we can probably expect HTC to be done with the first Jelly Bean software leaps in around two months' time. That's just speculation, though, based on how long it took the company to get its first upgrades from Froyo to Gingerbread, so in reality we might have to wait significantly more.

Be that as it may, we still have to praise HTC for at least making it look like they’re keeping their customers in the loop about the Jelly Bean updating process, which is not what we can say about other manufacturers – cough, Samsung, cough, Motorola.


This article, HTC confirms Jelly Bean updates for One X, One XL and One S, fails to announce any dates , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sony LT29i Hayabusa (aka Xperia GX) hits FCC, is just about confirmed for the States

Posted: 20 Jul 2012 02:59 AM PDT

While in the low and medium-end parts of the smartphone world Sony has made quite the efforts to gain traction over the last few months, the high-tech involvement of the Japanese company has been (officially) almost completely non-existent.

Unofficially, however, we've known for a while that Sony is preparing something big, in the form of a phone that has gone through more codenames and secret identities than Daniel Craig's James Bond. The LT29i, aka Hayabusa, aka Xperia GX, aka SO-04D, has been rumored for many months and has now made a "gala" appearance over at the FCC.

Before taking a look at the FCC's filing and what do the Commission's documents reveal about the smartphone, we should explain a bit about those four codenames and how they are tied together in a very exciting intrigue.

First, there was the LT29i, or the Hayabusa, which appeared in a leaked release schedule for 2012 with an ETA set for July and a rumored price of around $600. There was very little known about the phone at that time, but it was pretty obvious that Sony intended it to compete head-to-head against the snappiest high-end devices around.

Several months later, Sony officially introduced the Xperia GX (or the SO-04D), a high-end phone thought to be made available as a Japanese-only device. It didn't take long for some GX pictures and video clips to surface, though, which made it almost clear that the phone was in fact the same one as the LT29i "Hayabusa".

Now that we've cleared that up (hopefully), let's turn our attention back to the LT29i FCC filing and see what that's all about. Unfortunately, the FCC documents approving the phone for a US release are even more mysterious than usual, and the only technical detail that we can find out about the upcoming phone is the pentaband HSPA-capable 3G support.

Other than that, we know nothing certain about the "Hayabusa", which in itself, however, makes something almost certain. That expected July release date from some time ago will most likely not be honored outside Japan, with US and European tech users probably having to wait at least until mid-August for the “beast”.

As for the future phone's spec sheet, we know for sure how will the Japanese Xperia GX be equipped, but there's no way to know if there'll be any differences between it and the global LT29i. Be that as it may, it’s worth mentioning that the GX will feature a 4.6-inch LCD touchscreen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, a dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 "Krait" processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board memory, a microSD card slot, a 13 MP rear-facing camera, a 1,700 mAh battery, NFC, and the running of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.

Is anyone eager to see this high-end monster released? Could it have what it takes to challenge the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X?

No related posts.


This article, Sony LT29i Hayabusa (aka Xperia GX) hits FCC, is just about confirmed for the States , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Telus HTC Desire HD Ice Cream Sandwich update delay explained by carrier

Posted: 20 Jul 2012 02:53 AM PDT

Last week, Telus told its subscribers that the HTC Desire HD will not be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich after the handset performed poorly in ICS testing. HTC did not share any details on the matter at the time, but it now seems that the Taiwanese Android manufacturer has decided not to go through with the update – the Desire HD was included in HTC's ICS rollout plans.

MobileSyrup reports that while HTC Canada is yet to publicly respond, Telus further elaborated on this issue:

[…] TELUS stated in an email to us that "the decision to suspend the software for this device was made by HTC, not TELUS." In addition, specifically surrounding the "device performance during testing," TELUS noted that "the software was not suspended due to its incompatibility with TELUS software or applications." Finally, "if HTC should take this upgrade out of a suspended status, TELUS will follow normal process to ensure that the software is released to our customers."

The publication points out the good news in this statement: the word "canceled" has been replaced by "suspended," so all hope is not lost for Telus Desire HD owners.

Moreover, CNET UK has it that the Desire HD ICS rollout will be resumed, according to a comment made by the Android maker:

HTC says: “We remain committed to providing customers with the latest software updates when possible. As such, we are pleased to confirm we are still on schedule to deliver an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade for both the HTC Desire HD and Desire S.”

Needles to say, we've seen such drama before when it comes to official Android updates, so we'll stand by waiting for more details on this particular ICS rollout.


This article, Telus HTC Desire HD Ice Cream Sandwich update delay explained by carrier , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Asus: There’s no rear-facing camera on the Nexus 7 to keep the price down

Posted: 20 Jul 2012 02:46 AM PDT

Google's newly unveiled Nexus 7 has been making the headlines on our website for some weeks now, and, while the tab has just started to ship, it's very likely that we will be talking about it for some time to come.

We've had a very interesting take on Nexus 7's effect on the Android tablet market, we've updated you several times on when to expect the tablet to come your way, and we've even hit you with a cool unboxing video. Now it's time to turn our attention to a very interesting official statement from Asus, which clarifies the reasons behind an important missing feature on the Nexus 7.

Yes, we are talking about the rear-facing camera, which has become a rather standard feature for Android tablets in the past couple of years, but is nowhere to be found on the Nexus 7. And, while we pretty much suspected why Asus and Google chose not to slap a shooter on the back of the new tablet, we now have some official confirmation on the matter.

According to a quick Q&A session from Asus about the Nexus 7, "adding a high quality rear facing camera will increase the price point and many users would not have a use for it". Also, "adding a lower quality rear facing camera would compromise on the overall user experience so the decision was not to include a camera therefore keeping the price down and user experience extremely high."

There you have it, folks, what we knew from the get-go has now been confirmed by Asus. There's no high quality rear-facing camera on the Nexus 7, because its inclusion would have affected the Nexus’ strongest selling point – its pricing.

As for the decision to forgo a lower quality camera, I'm not sure it would have compromised the "overall user experience". I mean, it's not like a poor camera would have affected the smooth running of Jelly Bean in any other area, is it? Also, there are a couple of practical uses, even for a low-quality rear-facing camera, other than actually taking photos (barcode scanning, for example).

All in all, however, I think that this entire rear-facing camera problem comes down to a matter of opinion and personal taste for users. I for one don't use barcode scanning and very rarely take photos with my tablet's camera, so this Nexus 7 "inconvenience" doesn't put me off in the least. Other users, though, might have a problem with that, no matter how Asus is trying to explain it.

What side are you guys on? Is the lack of a rear-facing camera on the Nexus 7 a deal-breaker for you, or are you actually happier with the tablet as it is?


This article, Asus: There’s no rear-facing camera on the Nexus 7 to keep the price down , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Nexus One Jelly Bean port already available, not officially though

Posted: 20 Jul 2012 02:26 AM PDT

Remember the Google Nexus One? The HTC-made phone they said it wouldn't be upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich despite being a Nexus-branded device? That also means the device won't get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean from Google, and users that don't want to tinker with it will have to be content with Gingerbread running under the hood.

For everyone else – not that we're encouraging you to pursue such do-it-yourself modifications – a Nexus One Jelly Bean port has already been achieved and it's currently available courtesy of the folks over at xda-developers. We're not surprised to see developers come up with a Jelly Bean version for the original Nexus handset – after all, they did it with Ice Cream Sandwich before it.

In order to get the Jelly Bean ROM for the Nexus One you'll have to head over to the original xda-developers thread (hit the Source link below) and follow the instructions of texasice, the developer who posted it.

Meanwhile, here's what's working on the Nexus One running Android 4.1:

  • Data is working for me
  • Wifi + Tether
  • Bluetooth
  • Rotation
  • Mic
  • Sound
  • Usb Mass storage
  • HWA is a bit slow. But working fine for now.
  • Gps
  • Apps2sd
  • Trackball

In case you install Android 4.1 on your Nexus One, let us know how it all works out for you!


This article, Nexus One Jelly Bean port already available, not officially though , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Best dice games for Android

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT

One of the best ways to kill boredom is to find something that you enjoy. If you are someone who juggles several jobs in a day, then enjoying time with some handy Android apps can certainly make recreation easier. An example is simply sitting down and playing a game of dice against other people around the globe.

If you are a fan of dice games, but can’t find the time to play them while you’re at work, then this guide will be a great help. With the aid of these apps, you don’t need to go anywhere and call somebody to play with you. All you need to have is your Android phone and you’re all set. Whether you’re at work, at home, or even in some distant part of the globe, these best dice game apps for Android are readily accessible anytime you want them.

Farkle Dice – Free

Farkle Dice-Free offers impressive graphics and sound effects that would make you enjoy the entire game. It is also very user friendly, as it allows you to set the scoring rules to how you want to play. Of course, to make everything exciting, the app offers a very clear scoreboard, which gives you updates on your performance.

The app is designed to be a fast-paced dice game that can be played by 2 to 4 players. The goal is to reach a maximum of 10,000 points by playing against famous western heroes, outlaws, or your real-life friends.

All you need to do is to roll the dice and let Lady Luck bless you with big points. If you’re lucky enough to have both luck and skill on your side, then the slot for being the new Sheriff of Old Town, U.S.A. is all yours.

With over 400,000 downloads, Farkle Dice proves to be a fun and effective way of enjoying your time everywhere. You can play against three of your friends all at the same time, and even share your winning score on Facebook and Twitter. Moreover, the app also offers tons of customization options.

Farkle Dice – Free is the perfect app for a five-minute break.

Dice Me Online Free

Termed as the best poker dice game ever on the Google Play Store, Dice Me Online Free offers variation on your online dice game experience.

The app can be played solo or online and is patterned after the traditional poker game. What’s interesting about this app is that it has a total of 13 rounds, which means that you only have 13 chances of rolling the dice and making it to the highest possible score.

You have to throw 5 dice to play at each level and the goal is to get the highest score in each category. It is important to remember that each category has different rules, so the scoring would be based on the rules of each part. Now if you find the rulings difficult, you can always check the rules section of the app.

Major features of Dice Me Online include Classic Mode, which is the traditional poker game, and the Color Mode, which gives you the luxury to change the color of your dice into red, green, or yellow.

If you’re the type who won’t enjoy a game without exhausting all your mighty efforts, then Dice Me Online offers you Highscores online. This feature gives you the opportunity to play against the best player in the world.

With Dice Me Online-Free, you can play dice games to your heart’s content.

Lock ‘n’ Roll Free

An app fit for those who are looking for an avenue to challenge their mental skills in a dice game, Lock ‘n’ Roll Free is devised to be an intriguing puzzle dice game which would require the players to make use of their mental skills to get a score. Your scores will entirely be up to you, as you need to analyze patterns of combinations according to number and colors. In other words, the quicker you are in seeing patterns, the bigger your chance of getting higher scores.

The game is played by rolling 4 dice at the same time, and arranging them on a 4×4 grid on a board, based on number and color patterns. Once you lock them down, they will be fixed in place. The game will continue until there will be no more places for the dice. You have to keep the board clear by placing the right patterns. Otherwise, the game will be over.

Your scores can be shown to everyone and you can also challenge scores shared by other players.

Lock ‘n’ Roll has a multi-player challenge system. You may challenge existing high scores and attempt to beat a high score with the same dice. You can also check the performance of others who tried to use the same dice.

With Lock ‘n’ Roll, you’ll enjoy a whole bunch of mental exercises in your dice game experience.

Dice with Buddies Free

As the name implies, Dice with Buddies Free app allows you to play dice with anyone of your choice. You can invite your family, friends, or even the stranger sitting beside you to enjoy this fabulous dice app.

Considered as one of the best mobile dice games available on Android today, Dice with Buddies provides interactivity with its users. It’s built with a turn-based play mechanism in order to keep several games going all at the same time. All you need to do is to wait for the “Push” notification to appear on your screen to indicate that it is already your turn to play.

What’s interesting about this app is the fact that you can chat with your opponents while in the game. Dice with Buddies uses in-game chat to allow its players to constantly stay in touch with their opponents while playing the game. You can greet, heckle, or even shout your updates and feelings about the game.

The app also allows you to challenge family and friends through SMS or Facebook. Or, in cases when you like to have something really different, you may choose random opponents from the opposite side of the world.

If you’re now revved up to start a game of dice with anyone, then Dice with Buddies is an apt buddy for you.

MegaYatzy Free

MegaYatzee Free is the perfect match for people who find fun and enjoyment in playing against a crowd. The app is equipped with a total of 12 different playmode-combinations.

Some of the app’s major features include a simple and easy user interface, Classic or New game modes, animations, and its completely redesigned User Interface. MegaYatzee also allows games that can be played in teams. You can also gather all your strongest friends to battle against another team.

Started games can be saved and continued anytime you like, including the names of the previous players in case you want to start a new game.

One of the unique features of this app is its multi-language feature which supports English and German. Top 25 scores for each game mode are also saved for reference.

MegaYatzee is the best dice app for a fun-filled experience with a huge crowd.

Yahtzee YAMB

Yahtzee YAMB provides users with the satisfying experience of a traditional dice game. With its multiplayer mode, a maximum of 4 players can play the game all at the same time. The best results of the game are saved in its database, including the best scores for the past 7 days or past month. Through this, you could monitor the status of your game progress as well as your opponents’.

The best thing about this app is its simplicity. Users don’t need to remember a lot of rules in order to gain high points. The goal is simply to score as many points as you can, by throwing 5 dice and making sure that you can collect points for each of the 13 app categories.

The game is divided into upper and lower sections. The first 6 categories are found in the upper section while the remaining 7 are in the lower section. If you get a score bigger than 62 in the first 6 categories, you’ll be given additional 35 points.

To enjoy a simple and easy dice game, Yahtzee YAMB is a perfect pick for you.

Dice Bag

If you are a fan of dragons and dungeons and all other stuff related to these mighty creatures, then Dice Bag could be a very helpful tool for you. The app is a configurable dice roller primarily made for role playing games (RPGs) like Dungeons and Dragons. This doesn’t mean though that the app is solely limited to RPGs. Any game that requires dice can be used with this app.

Unlike other apps which focus on pretty colors while having a game, Dice Bag’s main focuses are on the features and customization of the game. Users can also pre-program their rolls and check the status of their damages as they go through with the game without any interruption.

Features of this app include the result history of games, profiles for various games and characters, dice combinations, options like exploding, drop lowest, penetrating, and many more.

So, if you’re up to a whole new dice game experience, Dice Bag is a potential app for your fancy.

DiceShaker 3D Free

DiceShaker 3D Free is a hyper-realistic dice roller that allows users to experience a game of dice in a more realistic way. Armed with an advanced physics engine, users can roll the dice by actually shaking their phone or pressing its shake button. Individual dice can be rolled by flicking, and you may lock or release the dice by simply touching it.

Moreover, the app also has advanced 3D graphics with custom shaders and dynamic shadows, making it appear more modern and realistic. The app uses Immersion’s MOTIV haptic effects for its vibrational feedback.

Currently, the app doesn’t support the Samsung Galaxy S2. And, even though the app only supports high-end phones like the Nexus One, HTC Desire or Incredible, Droid, or other faster devices, DiceShaker 3D proves to be a very good companion for those who want a new generation dice game experience.

With DiceShaker 3D free, a real-life experience on dice games is within reach.

Farkle Live

An app that allows you to play with real opponents and not just with your pre-programmed computer is within reach.

Farkle Live allows users to play against various opponents over the internet. If you decide to play in a multiplayer game, the goal is to get 10,000 points faster than the other players. All you need to do is roll the dice and collect as many points as you can. In a solo game, however, you need to undergo 10 rounds and collect the same score in order to win.

Players take turns in rolling the dice. As long as they roll scoring combinations, they may either roll the remaining dice, or collect their points. If, for example, you roll a no-scoring combination, you’ll be given a Farkle, and lose all the points you earned from that round. But if you’re lucky enough and roll all 6 dice with scoring combinations, then you’ll get a bonus round, and may choose to roll all the 6 dice again or collect your points.

Farkle Live is made for fun, and to enjoy your experience more, it has its Training mode, where you could improve your skill for the game.

Using Farkle Live is a perfect match for a simple and easy adventure in the world of dice.

Yachty Deluxe Free

Yachty Deluxe Free is the app known to be suitable for all ages. It has 13 rounds and you should score in each of these rounds in order to continue with the game. Just like with other apps, the goal of this app is to score as high as you can against all your opponents.

To suit the different tastes of users, this app provides various options like its Solo mode, which is good for those who want to play individually. Its Triples mode is also good for one player and uses three-scoring columns.

If you only have one device but still want to play a game of dice with a friend, then you can simply hand him the device right after you’ve taken your turn. You won’t need an Internet connection.

This app’s realistic dice in 3D is amazing. It has advanced physics simulation, which gives users a hint of realism in their game experience.

Yachty Deluxe Free does not only spice up your usual dice game experience. It provides a friendly surrounding for everyone to enjoy.

Now that you’ve finally taken a glimpse at the most notable dice games for Android, you can easily enjoy the game of dice either on your own or with friends/family.


This article, Best dice games for Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Extended batteries for the Samsung Galaxy S3 [video]

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 08:48 PM PDT

What started as a portable means to make and receive calls and text messages, has now been replaced with the desire for a lot of other technologies such as cameras and mp3 players. Our smartphones have become an essential part of our lives, which we use for almost everything. Browsing the internet, checking e-mail, watching videos, listening to music, taking pictures and videos, and gaming, we can do it all on one single device.

What gives us the ability to do so, is the rapidly changing handheld device technology, such as the much faster dual-core and quad-core processors we now have available to us. Unfortunately, one piece of tech that hasn’t been able to keep up with the rest: the battery. Yes, OEMs do have the option to feature much larger batteries in their devices. But this takes away from the form factor in a world that is seemingly obsessed with “ultra-slim.”

This is where the availability of extended batteries is a life saver. Extended batteries, in a lot of cases, don’t offer that much more capacity than the stock battery. They are used more as a replacement than anything else, if your original phone battery is dying. Today, we take a look at an extended battery option for the Samsung Galaxy S3 – the Hyperion battery and charger set.

The Hyperion Samsung Galaxy S3 battery pack includes two 2,200 mAH batteries and a universal wall charger. You can watch Clayton’s video of the Hyperion extended battery for the Samsung Galaxy S3 here:

On a side note, as mentioned in the video, please DO NOT buy the Onite rechargeable batteries. Even though it specifically states that this extended battery is for the Samsung Galaxy S3, it does not fit in the battery socket. Although a customer review states the company is aware of this situation and sent him a new battery which does work, please wait for an official confirmation from the battery manufacturer before going ahead with this purchase.

Back to the Hyperion battery for the Galaxy S3. Features of this extended battery include:

  • Smart LED on the wall charger shows charging status.
  • The batteries feature an integrated microchip to prevent overcharging and lengthen battery life.
  • 2 spare batteries available which means you’re never without power.
  • Compatible with all versions of the Samsung Galaxy S3 (International and US)

As mentioned, the 2,200 mAH capacity is only 100 mAH more than what is available with the Samsung battery. It’s not going to drastically improve your device battery life, but is very handy as a replacement for when the stock battery is dying.

What are your thoughts? How good has your battery life experience with the Samsung Galaxy S3 been? Will you be buying the Hyperion extended battery pack? If you’ve already done so, let us know your experience in the comments section below.

No related posts.


This article, Extended batteries for the Samsung Galaxy S3 [video] , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android Authority On Air – Episode 21 – The Nexus 7 launches

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 08:44 PM PDT

This week the Google / Asus Nexus 7 officially launched. This tablet is amazing and extremely popular. Our guests and hosts discussed the most popular features of the Nexus 7 including price, content, form factor, size and weight and general usability. Yes, some people are complaining about dead pixels or screen lifting issues. Is this really a big deal? Don’t many, many tablets have launch issues including the latest iPad? Yes. When you’re mass producing these units you’re bound to have a few that aren’t perfect. Send’em back and get a replacement.

Besides the Nexus7 shipping with Jelly Bean, we were teased this week with CM10 on many, many different devices. We’ve seen previews for Optimus 4X, HTC One S, Xoom, Nexus 7, all variants of the SGS3 minus Verizon, HTC Sensation, SGS1, SGS2 Skyrocket, Epic Touch, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Toro, and Maguro.

CM9 reaches release candidate 2 and adds support for a handful of Samsung devices. Do you need a phone with 64GB of storage? Samsung thinks you do. AT&T announces their new shared data plans and we compare them to Verizon’s Share Everything plans and more this week on Android Authority On Air.

Tune in tonight at 9:30pm ET and watch us LIVE on our Google+ Page!

Miss the show? Tune in or watch below:

YouTube
SoundCloud
Stitcher
iTunes
Google Listen/RSS

Links:

AT&T announces new Mobile Share plans, to launch in late August
Verizon brings its 4G LTE network to 33 new markets, now reaches over 300
SwiftKey 3 update comes with Jelly Bean support and several bug fixes
Updated Google Play Music is now "harder, better, faster, and stronger"
Samsung confirms 64GB Galaxy S3 will come later this year
Is the ZTE Grand X the start of a stock Android revolution?
UK judge forces Apple to publicly acknowledge that Samsung did not copy the iPad
Nexus 7 screen separation issue and fix discovered


This article, Android Authority On Air – Episode 21 – The Nexus 7 launches , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Black T-Mobile HTC One S spotted

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 08:35 PM PDT

The HTC One S is a great buy for anyone who prefers a smaller screen which can be lot more comfortable in the hand. At 4.3″, the One S feels a lot easier to hold than the HTC One X (4.7″ display) and the Galaxy S3 (4.8″). Because of the LTE radio incompatibility issues with quad-core processors, in the US, all three devices also feature the same 1.5 Ghz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor.

The One S is available exclusively with T-Mobile, but the network carrier only has the grey version with blue colored accent around the camera. While beautifully designed and great to look at, I think that the internationally-available black version with the deep red camera accent is even more elegant and classy-looking. Unfortunately, T-Mobile does not have the black version of the One S for sale.

Or do they?

It looks like the black HTC One S has arrived on US shores, complete with T-Mobile branding. That’s the good news. The bad news? According to TMoNews, it looks like this version is not on sale, but is being given out to T-Mo store representatives who achieve a sales goal with HTC devices.

While a great reward for these deserving employees, T-Mobile should very seriously consider having this version available to the public as well. There’s no indication as to whether the black One S will eventually release with T-Mobile. Hopefully this is a pseudo-test phase to gauge consumer reaction before the release. For now, if the HTC One S catches your fancy, you’ll have to “settle” for the grey version.

What are your thoughts? Are you hoping that the black version of the HTC One S will release to the public? Let us know in the comments section below.


This article, Black T-Mobile HTC One S spotted , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


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